Owensboro Transit System (OTS) will offer the public free rides on all fixed routes on June 20 in honor of a national event called “Dump the Pump Day.”
According to OTS Manager Pamela Canary, celebrating Dump The Pump Day begins by choosing a method of transportation that doesn’t require you to stop at the pump. This is the 14th annual celebration.
“Dump the pump day encourages you to ride public transportation instead of driving a car,” Canary said.
The day was inspired by high gas prices in June 2006 as a way to emphasize that public transportation is a convenient travel option that also saves drivers money while benefiting people’s health and environment.
OTS provides more than 23,000 rides per month which equates to over 280,000 rides a year, Canary said. Nationally, public transportation’s overall effects save 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually. Communities that invest in public transit reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually.
